Method and apparatus for controlling a mobile device beyond an area of interest boundary

• US 9,316,738 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Guzman, Jorge, Lee, Sean S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hai V
• Application Number:
  US11/545,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20070149219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,479 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/428
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications

Abstract

A mobile wireless system (10) includes a transmitter such as a satellite (18) that broadcasts wireless signals such as boundaries for specific areas to a mobile receiving device (22). Mobile receiving device (22) may include an antenna (26) and a mobile receiving device (28). A locating receiver (50) is used to generate locating signals so that a determination may be made to the location of the mobile receiving device. When the location is outside an area of interest the area of interest may be extended to provide services to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile device comprising:

determining a location of the mobile device;

determining the mobile device is outside a designated marketing area fixed on the surface of the earth in response to the location;

determining a first distance to a first designated marketing area;

determining a second distance to a second designated marketing area;

comparing the first distance and the second distance to determine a shortest distance;

selecting a selected designated marketing area from the first designated marketing area and the second designated marketing area based on the shortest distance;

broadcasting wireless signals have location specific information therein; and

displaying the wireless signals corresponding to the selected designated marketing area.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining the first distance comprises determining the first distance to a first designated marketing area boundary.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining the second distance comprises determining the second distance to a second designated marketing area boundary.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining the first distance comprises determining the first distance to a first broadcast center.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining the second distance comprises determining the second distance to a second broadcast center.